African Traditional Religion, Christianity, and Islam
African Traditional Religion, Islam, and Christianity African Traditional Religion, Islam, and Christianity are three extremely different religions that have very different belief systems. They believe different things about life after we die on earth, they believe that different things are and are not God, and they believe different types of people are and are not prophets and priests. Though these three religions have so many differences, they have some similarities. Let’s look at some of the definitions of religion. Durkheim defines religion as a system of beliefs related to sacred things. Kung defines religion as a social and individual relationship that is vitally realized in tradition and community through doctrine, ethos, and rituals with something that transcends with man and his work. Kung believes that religion is a lived experience. Reverend Opol defines religion as a relationship with God manifested through people. All three of these have different aspects of religion tied into them. I believe that all three religions, African Traditional Religion, Islam, and Christianity, have all three of these aspects even though they are very different from each other. All of these definitions except the one of Reverend Opol deal with outward rituals, but we will focus on the theology and the inward beliefs of these three religions. Religion is all embracing; it involves every aspect of life. We will see how different aspects of religion affect its followers. The first similarity that I found in all three religions is that all three believe in a Supreme God. This God governs all, knows all, controls all, and created all. African Traditional Religion believers believe in other gods that help them with their everyday lives. They know that there is a supreme God and Creator that is often called Katonda or Nyamuhango. They feel that the Supreme God is too busy and far away to help them in their daily lives, therefore; they believe in many