It can be a doyen of good fortune or a harbinger of evil. The customs and traditions make the people to show respect towards their culture and ancestry. It is the custom of the Igbo clan to offer prayer to their deity. Ezeulu, as the Chief priest of the God, Ulu prays on behalf of the clan; “Ulu, I thank you for making me see another new moon. May I see it again and again.
Social life depends on symbols of communication, which may differ from one culture to another. Religion is perceived to have influenced humanity in the following ways: I.Through symbols which cut across all cultures. Its social arrangement that serves to integrate society has become a force that energizes cultural symbols to emit the meaning they are expected to portray, making a system of authoritative beliefs about the word II.As a social phenomenon, religion has the capacity to exert and to position itself. III.Religion supplies the same social function irrespective of denomination. It can be noticed in the feeling that enjoyed by a Christian after listening to the a stirring sermon from a favorite preacher, is a Muslim who experienced an articulated discourse from a popular imam, and the same experience is felt by an African after pouring a libation to the ancestors.
Edmonds and Michelle A. Gonzalez, the historical trajectories of Revival Zion in Jamaica and Spiritual Baptists in Trinidad (and other eastern Caribbean islands) provide salient examples of cultural convergence, adaptation, and agency at the Caribbean crossroads. Ennis B. Edmonds and Michelle A. Gonzalez stated that these faiths arose from the meeting of various religious traditions from Africa and Europe in the Caribbean arena. Afro-Christian traditions such as Revival Zion and Spiritual Baptists believed only in the Christian God of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father is acknowledged as the all-powerful creator and sovereign of the universe. Jesus and the Holy Spirit are the significant presences that are said to empower and sustain the lives of devotees as they strife to sustain themselves spiritually, socially, and materially in this
From these shared experiences, the community as a whole can hope for a shared and united future full of God's promises. Preaching within this context poses opportunities to describe God's grace throughout the shared faith journey while proclaiming the Word of God. The second aspect of about the Asian American tradition derived from the text is the influence of ancient religions such as Confucianism, Buddhism, and shamanism. These religions are evident in the cultural ethos and religious practices among Asian Americans. Being aware of the impact these religions have made in the formation of the corporate personality of Asian Americans has the potential to present a challenge to a preacher within
When we immerse ourselves into another culture for the purpose of sharing the gospel with them, we proclaim that truth. The continent of Africa is historically is one of the most
The general topic of interest is religion. Here, the study intends to explore the way religious practices are influenced by the existence of globalization. Religion is commonly perceived as a good connotation and aimed for positivity. However, with the existence of globalization, global communities have taken advantage of such social environments in understanding and misunderstanding one another in the context of their own religious beliefs (Beyer & Beaman, 2007). Furthermore, religious beliefs and practices have influenced the social aspects of life among global communities.
Introduction John S Mbiti asserts religion as being an ubiquitous element of African culture, such that it "colours their [African peoples] understanding of the universe... making life a profoundly religious experience" (Mbiti 1969: 4). As opposed to Abrahamic faiths, African religions are concerned more so with orthopraxy than orthodoxy - with participation, as manifest through rituals for example, being stressed upon in terms of devotion to ensure good fortune in the life of this world. As such, it serves as a function for both society at large and individuals - thus aligning with Milton Yinger's definition of religion as being "a system of beliefs and practices by means of which a group of people struggle with the ultimate problems of human
Reflection: Missions in the Old Testament When God calls His people to be part of his kingdom, he always gives us a purpose or a mission. Most of Gods people in the Old Testament are given a mission; there is always a commission. God always has a great plan to save the world, to initiate this plan; he needs to use us as instruments to reach out to others. (Isa. 45:22).
Contradiction as to which religion has more concern for the environment than the rest still exists, though within each belief environment is a priority for the people, Christians believe that god created the world therefore, a method to depict Love to God is to care for the environment. Sharma and Patel (n.d p.131) Being mindful of the needs of current and future generations is an
Four major functions of religion are disciplinary, cohesive, vitalizing and euphoric forces. Religious rituals prepare men for social life by imposing self-discipline and a certain measure of asceticism. Religious ceremonies bring people together and thus serve to reaffirm their common bonds and to reinforce social solidarity. Religious observance maintains and revitalizes the social heritage of the group and helps transmit its enduring values to future generations. More than that religion has a euphoric function that serves to counteract feelings of frustration and loss of faith by reestablishing the believers' sense of well-being, their sense of the essential rightness of the moral world of which they are a part.