IDEAS + TERMS + MOVEMENTS African Religions - II The supreme god is represented by numerous intermediaries -- leser deities and spirits dwelling in the natural world and controlling natural forces -- whose favour and assistance in preserving the cosmic order are sought through ritual, prayer and sacrifice. African religions are focused on correcting the problems of this life, not preparing for the next; religious ritual is instrumental, not merely symbolic, seeking to control natural forces and regulate human interactions. The causes of personal and communal misfortunes are located in offences against the gods and ancestors, including individual misdeeds and social conflicts that disturb the natural equilibrium. Rituals are thus designed not only to thank benevolent spirits and propitiate harmful ones but to repair the social fabric as well. Ritual practices include animal sacrifices and food offerings, feasts and dances devoted to particular divinities, rites of passage from one stage of life to another (including death), seasonal celebrations, and magical rites to summon compassionate power and thwart witchcraft and sorcery. Many ceremonies involve spirit possession, in which a celebrant in a trance state becomes the physical and vocal instrument of the spirit being invoked.. The view of creation as an unbroken continuum is reflected in the role played by the ancestors, revered forebears who are not departed but are present in the souls of the living and active in the life of the community, acting as guardians and sources of wisdom. Religion is an inextricable part of everyday life, with neither established church nor professional clergy; priests, healers, shamans, diviners, and other mediums to the spirit world are typically elders or those recognised ass having special abilities.
Posted on: Thu, 21 Aug 2014 11:18:21 +0000
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015