Importance of moral values in african traditional religion pdf

In this paper, we try to show the relevance of african culture and values to the. A case study of nkusukumekumfienyan area of the central region. This study examined the role of traditional african moral values in national development. African religions and philosophy is a systematic study of the attitudes of mind and belief that have evolved in the many societies of africa. It explored the african traditional religion and the traditional moral values in the context of sustainable national development. Islamic moral values and education is outlined that may be helpful for future educators and researchers. This is why philosophical appraisal of african culture and values is not only apt and timely, but also appropriate. From time to time i hear people talking about traditional morality or traditional values as though it were a single thing, set in stone. They symbolize the terrible punishments the dead can inflict if the moral values of the community are not upheld. Box 4384400100, nairobi, kenya abstract it is the opinion consensuses of a few scholars that the institution of marriage has continued to. Religious and moral education principles and practice. Submitted by francis acquah to the university of exeter as a thesis for the degree of doctor of philosophy in theology in december 2011. Burial and mourning customs death in african religions is one of the last transitional stages of life requiring passage rites, and this too takes a long time to complete.

The place of african traditional religion in interreligious encounters in sierra leone since the advent of islam and christianity is my own work and that all the sources that i have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references. Since african traditional religion, promotes integral development that goes beyond mere economic globalization, this paper defends the thesis that atr plays a very important role in the. In the african world view, all life is religionfarrington 1998. Humanismthe doctrine that takes human welfare, interests, and needs as. The role of african traditional religion, culture and. African world and ideology religion and religious beliefs and their effects on the african community are the key to understanding the african world and ideology. Culture is part of the african indigenous religion. Its visible in a rampant narcissism, sense of entitlement and generalized contempt exercised by some factions of society. The teaching of african traditional religion in primary schools in zimbabwe. Pdf the teaching of african traditional religion in.

We shall try to illustrate that african culture and values can be appraised from. In this second edition, dr mbiti has updated his material to include the involvement of women in religion, and the potential unity to be found in what was once thought to be a mass of quite separate religions. Introduction over the years, several scholars have raised arguments concerning what determines the morality of a group of people. Colonialism, africa, values, religion, culture, morality. They could be described as teaching aids when explaining some moral principles to them. They are religiocultural matters which have to be dealt with in religiocultural ways. God maintains creation, god is the creator of everything, god provides for and guards creation, god is omnipotent and omniscient, god supports fairness. Traditional ethics in this paper refers to the norms, precepts, principles and moral codes, which regulate the conduct and actions of individuals in african societies.

Traditional morality can become reflective and dynamic when those moral ideas that are simply handed down and accepted are subjected to analysis and criticism. In fact, africa is a vast continent encompassing both geographic variation and tremendous cultural diversity. To show the fundamental importance of values, it is. Max weber was of the view that religion also controls the economic life. Its recognized in the breakdown of the family structure. It sees traditional religion and morality as correlative values and, in view of naturalist interpretation of reality, shows. Reflective morality requires that moral ideas are carefully examined and tested. The impact of african traditional religious beliefs and cultural values on christian muslim relations in ghana from 1920 through the present. Calling your own values traditional gives them a certain weight and authorityif whoever youre talking to doesnt have a critical mind. It should be noted that any attempt to generalize about the nature of african religions risks wrongly implying that there is homogeneity among all african cultures. Moreover, the centrality of the place of values in african culture as a heritage that is passed down from one generation to another, will be highlighted. Everywhere you look, it seems, signs of the decline in moral values are in evidence.

African moral values can complement christian moral values. Meaning of life and its wholeness in the traditional african society, the african concept of community and kinship system, factors contributing to harmony and mutual responsibility in the african communities, rites of passage, the role of religious specialists in the african communities and their relevance today, african moral values continuity and change in the african. African traditional religion in a globalizing world. This belief, just as in the case of the previous one, has a theological basis the plurality of divinities polytheism. African religions, religious beliefs and practices of the peoples of africa. Greeting people in africa is one of the most important things you. Traditional african approaches in the light of natural values, and of modern secular attitude if we are going to speak of traditional african concepts and customs regarding marriage and the family, a few clarifications are called for. African traditional religion is all about, basically by sampling the opinions of different scholars in this regard. Introduction it is a fact that in african traditional belief, god is the explanation of all things. The believer imbibes these ideals and values in his life. In the traditional african society especially in igbo society, taboos played significant and positive roles. African traditional religion is very pragmatic and apply to the need as it arises. A reflection on the african traditional values of marriage.

The paper attempts to demonstrate the vast potentials of oral tradition as a vehicular access to understanding african beliefs and practices. They provided a set of rules serving as a moral guidance or a law in the community to ensure that peace and security were present in the community. African traditional religion is built upon certain foundational beliefs and they form the essence. The paper provides a clear understanding of african ethics and morality. For many africans and ghanaians, in particular, it is religion more than anything else that shapes their worldview and participation in social life6. First, it begins by a study of the meaning of religion, which itself is enigmatic and. Pdf morality and religion in african thought researchgate. African traditional religion, rituals, worldview, healing, postwar healing 1. It is a moral and economic rationale for exploiting natural. The whole community faithfully carries out all rites and rituals connected with rites of passage such as birth, puberty, marriage, death and life after death. African religions rituals, world, burial, body, funeral. Yet, the indigenous religious beliefs and cultural values have. Group moral responsibilities towards peace and development.

One should be aware that acquisition and construction of moral knowledge may be based on performance. Religion is a fundamental, perhaps the most important, influence in the life of most africans. Although, it is important to note that talking about african cultural values does not. This, as mbiti has rightly pointed out, is because, it is religion, more than anything else, which colours their the african empirical participation in that universe, making life a. A reflection on the african traditional values of marriage and sexuality dr. A person must be born in a particular african people in order to be able to follow african religion. African religion can complement christian moral values by sharing concepts about god for example. The africans therefore believe that the environment is knitted to the presence of god.

Religion refers to a system of beliefs, practices, institutions, and relationships that provides the primary source of moral guidance for believers for example, christianity, islam, hinduism and judaism. However, african morality is not necessarily based on religion or faith, but on the beneficiary values of collective family and community wellbeing, without dissolving the individuals character. Morality also overlaps with law and religion but shouldnt be confused with. But this may not necessarily be the modes of acquisition of moral knowledge in indigenous societies with less emphasis on instruction in verbal linguistic modes. In african conceptions moral values originate from the basic existential. The main objective of this paper is to examine african culture and values. The rebirth of african moral traditions as key to the. A critical and appreciative perspective 3 these questions, we will first seek to develop a better grasp of religion as a major constituent of the worldview of african people. This brief flirtation with scientific socialism ended in the first decade of independence with the abandonment of marxismleninism as a philosophy guiding socioeconomic and political development in zimbabwe.

What is the dynamic of a typical african community as a moral arrangement. When one lacked an intellectual ability to impart the importance of some moral principles, taboos were a useful way of transmitting the same value from a different perspective. Religion and morality in the african traditional setting jstor. The importance of the ancestor spirits in defending group values is further. It sees traditional religion and morality as correlative values and, in view of naturalist interpretation of reality, shows that 1 there is collaboration between individual and public morality through the intermediation of moral agents, 2 the society is morally self. Interreligious relations, especially, among african traditional religion atr worshippers, muslims and christians are becoming sources of social tension and violence. It then highlights the urgent need, in the face of a rapidly changing world, where values are shifting fast, to document for posterity a religion whose tenets have been. The characterization of traditional african religion would, thus, lead me to. Moral education is whatever schools do to influence how students think, feel, and act. The crosscultural nature for understanding its philosophy is of particular importance because of the radicalone might say even traumatic interface that africa has had with european culture and with western modernity. It is the religion which resulted from the sustaining faith held by the forebears of the present africans, and which is being practised today in various forms and. Since culture is often seen as the sum total of the peculiarities shared by a people, a peoples values can be seen as.

African moral and cultural values cre form 1 notes. Religion can help youth generation to become moral, disciplined and socialized citizens of society. The first is that the context of this article is subsahara africa. Iwa character is, for the yoruba, perhaps the most important moral concept. This thesis will operate with the following definition of african traditional religion, put forward by julius mutugi gathogo. The traditional african understanding and the interpretation of christianity have deep roots in these fundamental beliefs of the african traditional religions. Taboos were used to convey moral values to especially to children.

African traditional religion and the traditional moral values in the context of sustainable national. Traditional values and modernization challenges in forming urban and rural culture 25 when, on the other hand, we face the nondialectic conception of tradition, when we become witnesses of its abuse, then it takes over traditionalism significances, by getting a predominantly negative connotation. It sees traditional religion and morality as correlative values and, in view of. The claim implies in turn that the moral beliefs and principles of the african people derive from those of religion, that religion provides the necessary justification for moral values and beliefs, and that moral concepts, such as good, bad, right and wrong, are defined or, must be defined in terms of religious prescriptions or commands. Nel morality and religion in african thought 34 promises of reward. The ceremonies bind and form religious values which govern the family and society. Thus, religion cannot be totally banished from the domain of moral practice, notwithstanding the fact that the moral values and principles of the african society do not derive from religion. The impact of african traditional religious beliefs and. They usually turn out to be talking about whatever morality or values they, themselves, accept. When we speak of african traditional religion, we mean the indigenous religious beliefs and practices of the africans. Ascd panel on moral education moral education in the life of the school an ascd panel urges schools to join with parents, the mass media, and the community to define and teach values such as justice, altruism, diligence, and respect for human dignity.