Historiographical perspectives of religious pluralism in Zimbabwe

1
Historiographical perspectives of religious
pluralism in Zimbabwe

• Zimbudzana Chimudzimu julius

2
Preface

• Religion in Zimbabwe like in the rest of Africa
  plays an important role in the lives of people.
  In Africa a person is born into a religion. Rites
  of passages from the time of birth, even at
  conception, have a religious meaning. The
  dominant religion is the traditional religion
  which is practiced in different ways in different
  places. The Ultimate being worshipped through the
  ancestors is the creator God.
• All of creation is sacred. That means the trees
  ,animals, peoples ,lands, rivers, wells, springs,
  forests and insects are sacred. Every space is
  sacred in ATR.
• The advent of foreign religions has forced people
  to abandon the traditional religion but in
  practice it is not possible to abandon it
  completely because it does not require daily or
  weekly attendance. Ones family can worship for
  and on behalf of the absent family members.
• In Zimbabwe the biggest challenge to traditional
  religion is/was Christianity and to a lesser
  extend Islam. There are records where
  Christianity failed to take off for very long
  periods. In Matebeleland the missionaries failed
  to make a single convert in a very long time.
• Christianity made significant inroads because of
  empirical colonization. It was seen as the
  religion of the Master and as such subjects had
  to identify with the master.
• Though there is no official proclaimed state
  religion, Christianity is taken by many to be the
  religion of the land. There is a need to be
  identified with Christianity because of its role
  in the process of civilization.
• All religions in Zimbabwe are free to
  proselytize in any way they can.
• Space is dominated by the religion with the most
  adherents or with money to buy space.

3
The country.

• Zimbabwe is a land locked country south of the
  continent of Africa.
• formally known as Rhodesia.
• Population 12.3 million
• Area 150,760 square miles
• Language of instruction is English

4
Religious Pluralism.

• No known religious clashes after independence
• Meeting in 1994 opened the discussion for
  dialogue
• Platvoet says religion in Zimbabwe is Radical
  pluralism
• G.Parender only talks of three religions in
  Zimbabwe i.e African traditional religion(s)
  (ATR),Christianity and Islam.
• Reality is there are more religions in Zimbabwe
  than this.
• 70-80 of the population is mainstream
  Christianity i.e. Roman catholic, Anglican and
  Methodist churches.
• The other 20 is shared by all the other
  religions including Christian groups not
  mentioned above.
• Islam is about 1 of the population
• ATR will be discussed below.

5
African Traditional religion

• According to Zinatha very high membership.
  (include all indigenous black people).
• Many people are ashamed to confess in public that
  they consult in times of need.
• First, African people are deeply, even
  notoriously, religious.
• Heathen is a foreign concept to Africans.
  Everyone is born into a religion in Africa.
• One may participate passively or actively.
• Prayers are made on behalf of and for the whole
  family.
• All creation is sacred.
• Has survived all the attack and verbal abuse of
  Western religions

6
Pluralism and ATR

• A very pluralistic religion that has accommodated
  incoming religions.
• Highly ecumenical
• Open to adaptation
• None-proselytizing religion no missionaries
• Level of visibility today is low but
  participation and participants are
  high.(nocturnal ceremonies)
• highly syncretic religion.
• Does not bad mouth other religions

7
Christianity.

• There is a rainbow of Christian groups in
  Zimbabwe.
• Dominant religious group
• Enjoy public gatherings
• Religion of the colonial master
• 75-85 are main line Christians (Roman Catholics,
  Anglicans, Methodists and to some extend
  Presbyterians).
• Pentecostals, Apostolic groups together with the
  Adventist groups and all other religions fall
  into the remaining bracket.

8
Christianity and pluralism

• Dominates the public spiritual market.
• Visible groups include R.Catholics, Protestants,
  Evangelicals ,Pentecostals and the apostolic
  groups.
• Evangelicals , pentecostals and apostolic groups
  are fast growing groups today.
• There used to be a strong ecumenical group.
• Involved in a lot of public development.

9
Islam

• Mainly practised by aliens
• indians,parkistinians,malawians and a few
  indiginious Zimbabweans.
• Adopted a lot to the African context
• Has similarities with African culture
• polygamy its a mark of manhood for Africans
• Belief in evil spirits. Jinn

10
Religious freedom

• No state religion but Christianity seems to be on
  top of acceptance.
• Constitution provides for freedom of religion.
• Almost all high govnt. Officials belong to a
  particular group.
• Religious groups may not have laws that directly
  oppose the laws of the land.
• Homosexuality
• human/child sacrifices

11
Church and state

• Good working relations before and after
  independence.
• Most national fathers were educated in christian
  mission schools
• Some missionaries worked hand in hand with
  nationalists during the war of liberation
• Conflict between certain church leaders over
  political leadership.
• Anglican case.

12
Current religious group represantation

• Zimbabwe council of churches
• The heads of denominations
• Fambidzano
• Zinatha
• Islamic Council

13
Civil religion/Nationalism

• Public holidays
• April 18 Independence Day
• May 1 Workers' Day
• May 25 Africa Day
• August 11 Heroes' Day
• August 12 Armed Forces Day
• December 22 Unity Day
• December 24 Christmas Eve
• December 25 Christmas Day
• December 26 Boxing day

14
The flag

• Zimbabwe's Flag
• description seven equal horizontal bands of
  green, yellow, red, black, red, yellow, and green
  with a white isosceles triangle edged in black
  with its base on the hoist side a yellow
  Zimbabwe bird representing the long history of
  the country is superimposed on a red five-pointed
  star in the center of the triangle, which
  symbolizes peace green symbolizes agriculture,
  yellow - mineral wealth, red - blood shed to
  achieve independence, and black stands for the
  native people