Christianity in Northern Africa Essay

The Spread of Islam from 630-1600 CE (doc.1) shows Islam’s extensive spread throughout this time period and it spread throughout Africa, Asia, Spain, Mesopotamia, and Persia. The 570 CE Trade Routes Map

Africa, like many other continents, was a very tremendous and a very diverse civilization that is very complicated to introduce due to all its wonderful but also diverse features and beliefs. From the differences between its society and language to its religion and politics, Africa always had the reputation that its empires, cities, and kingdoms never progressed in the developments and achievements for their civilization. Many people believed that the Europeans were actually the cause of Africa’s achievements and advanced developments for their civilizations. However, this is further than the whole truth. Before the arrival of the Europeans between the 15th and 16th century, African kingdoms, empires, and cities had many achievements and accomplishments

There are many religions throughout the world today. Although there are several different religions, many individuals are not educated about the other beliefs besides there own. Religions today do have differences but are also very much the same. This is demonstrated between the religion of Yoruba, and Christianity. The Gods that the people in these religions worship are different but have the same purpose throughout the lives of each individual. Each individual’s purpose and goal in these religions also display similarities. Furthermore the rituals that are done throughout these religions are done for directions and to improve the relationship between the individual and their god. There are various differences and similarities between

Many people think Christianity was not introduced to Africa until the nineteenth century. During colonial times Europe and America portrayed Africa as a land in need of salvation. Even though way more Africans practiced traditional African religions and Islam Africa played a central role in early Christianity. North Africa, Nile valley and Horn of Africa among the first world religions to embrace christianity. Christianity offered a means of resistance to the often-repressive rule of the Roman Empire. Christian missionaries were able to take advantage of Roman. trade and transportation networks to spread their message throughout the empire, For many Africans, Christians, Egypt was just much as a part of the holy land as Palestine. The presence

Europeans began to export slaves out of Africa and eventually into the Americas through Triangular trade. This put Africa on the map economically, but this economy began to disrupt their society. Different tribes began to start wars over obtaining slaves to trade for European goods. Eventually slave trade also led to a decrease in population in Africa, which caused a loss in potential for growth and as a result weakened African civilizations. Many regions were left dominated by females because of the demand for male slaves. This disrupted the previous traditional African family structure. The Europeans also took it upon themselves to impose Christianity on the Africans, who formerly practiced many different religions based on their

The Europeans thought it was their burden as white men to bring religion and God to whom they thought were uncivilized people (Spielvogel and McTighe 227) . When coming to Africa the Europeans spread the word of God through missionaries and bible teachings and converted a lot of the Africans to Christianity. As explained through an African proverb, “When the whites came to our country we had the land and they had the Bible, now we have the Bible and they have the land” (Document 3). To justify taking African religion the Europeans said it was their job as white men to give the Africans God so they can experience what comes with it. Bringing new beliefs to the Africans it replaced the other religious ideas and in turn lost much of the culture the Africans held. Incoming Europeans were more concerned with protecting their traditions and culture and spreading it to this new region rather than respecting the Africans and their existing traditional culture. While the Europeans worked to conserve their culture, religions and traditions they were looking to gain economic stability from Africa to help them to become more powerful and overall have good economic

1 According to The Oxford History of Islam, what is one way Islam was spread to African societies? Score of 1: States a way Islam was spread to African societies according to The Oxford History of Islam Examples: through trade routes; through the work of religious leaders; merchants were carriers/opened trade routes; merchants exposing isolated societies to external influences; integration of Muslim religious leaders into African societies; Muslim religious leaders played social/political roles similar to those of traditional priests; by people trading Score of 0: • Incorrect response Examples: merchants were agents of Islamization; by religious leaders forcing their views on isolated societies; there was conflict between traditional priests and Muslim men of religion • Vague response Examples: by being carriers; isolated societies were engaged; it was extended to men of religion; people • No response

The idea that Christianly as a form of religion already existed in Africa has been a constant argument within our class sessions. We discussed how many believed that Africans were only introduced to Christianity through the teaching of Europeans and various missionary

Religion has always been a predominant aspect in human life, whether we are believers or not, and has always influenced our lives whereas it is tied with social, political and economic aspects. Indeed, for example, nowadays Christianity has become the largest, dominant religion in the world with nearly 2.2 billion adherents in countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Russia and United States. [8] Moreover, Christianity not only as a religion itself, but along with the church, had had an impact on the course of history, both for its adherents and for the others. Historically, it is commonly known that Christianity started with Jesus in the ancient Roman world, it is commonly known that he was eventually executed and that, after his death, Christians were persecuted under several Roman emperors' reigns, and it is commonly known that during one specific reign the Romans started to shift their attitude towards Christians and Christianity became the main religion of Rome and of all its provinces that adopted Rome's culture, traditions and, precisely, religion. All of the above laid the foundation of what today we know as Christianity, though, what is Christianity? Historically, who was Jesus? Who were these reigns that brutally oppressed Christian population? And, more importantly, who was that Emperor that changed the destiny of that growing religion in the years of his reign?

*Jungle is a place with dense plants and trees which prevents sunlight from reaching through the tall trees onto the forest floor

Christianity in Africa is not a recent happening nor is it a product of colonialism if we go back to the very time of the apostle. Christianity in most area was confronted during the centuries after the struggle by Islam, the Christian religion suffered in some measure, but did not disappear. Christianity has been flourishing on the northern part of this continent for years before Islam was born. Christianity in North Africa seemed to have been well founded deeply entrenched and firmly led.

Since Christianity’s inception in Rwanda, first Catholic, and later Protestant, missionaries have sought to cultivate intimate relationships with Rwanda’s political powers in order to secure influence and power in the country. The first Catholic missionaries, the Society of Missionaries—better known as the White Fathers—entered into Rwanda with the goal of obtaining the favor of Rwanda’s kingdom. Longman argues that the White Fathers were convinced that Christianity would thrive in Rwanda by maintaining a cozy alliance with the colonial administration and the Rwandan kingdom. They believed that if royal court elites converted to the faith, then the masses would follow suit.

Since the article “David Livingstone’s Vision Revisited – Christianity, Commerce and Civilisation in the 21st Century” confirms the unstoppable power of Christianity in demonstrating peace as well as love to a nation tragically victimized by greed, which fueled the bondage of slavery of the African people by their own leaders. However, Livingstone believed Jesus Christ was the focal point of stopping this oppression to the African people. Christianity symbolizes a force that withstands time by the Almighty hand of God. Furthermore, Christianity significantly embodies ideal principles in aiding the spread of commerce and trade to Africa through the persistent work of David Livingstone. Overall, God used Livingstone in a mighty way, acknowledging

All throughout this first semester, our core two- hundred class has read and discussed many different ways of life. We have also gone out and experienced these differences and compared them to our own life styles. We as students have explored social and ethical issues as well as, been challenged to keep an open mind about subjects we may or may not agree with. We have also learned more about these issues that make us appreciate our current living conditions in the United States, as well as inform us about the issues that are going on right in our own communities. We have talked about cultural differences as well as morals and values, which have helped us to understand our own culture a bit better, and we have

In addition, there is Abyssinian version for reaching the Christianity to Najran, states that the priest Azkir could establish new church and baptised 38 Christians in Najran by the second half of fifth century (Budge, 1928).